Author/Editor     Thangarajh, Mathula; Masterman, Thomas; Helgeland, Lars; Rot, Uroš; Jonsson, Malin V; Egil-Eide, Geir; Pirskanen, Ritva; Hillert, Jan; Jonsson, Roland
Title     The thymus is a source of B-cell-survival factors-APRIL and BAFF-in myasthenia gravis
Type     članek
Source     J Neuroimmunol Suppl
Vol. and No.     Letnik 178, št. 1-2
Publication year     2006
Volume     str. 161-6
Language     eng
Abstract     The accumulation of B cells in the thymus is a common feature of myasthenia gravis (MG). To understand whether factors enhancing B-cell survival are increased in MG, we studied the expression of APRIL, BAFF and three of their receptors in the thymus. In hyperplastic thymi, macrophages expressed APRIL and BAFF, and germinal-center B cells, BAFF-R. CD138-positive plasma cells were abundant in MG thymi. By contrast, BCMA-positive plasma cells were scarce. The expression of APRIL and BAFF in MG thymi may reflect the establishment of an environment favorable to B-cell survival.
Descriptors     ADULT
AGED
AGED, 80 AND OVER
B-LYMPHOCYTES
ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY
IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY
MEMBRANE GLYCOPROTEINS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
MYASTHENIA GRAVIS
PROTEOGLYCANS
RECEPTORS, TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR
THYMUS GLAND